Ed – it’s certainly impolite to deliberately offend people, and it of course should be avoided. But you can’t say it should be banned, or regulated against. The thing about free speech is that nobody’s feelings *do* take precendence over anybody else’s – anybody is allowed to say what they like and anybody is allowed to disagree. Getting on with others involves listening to other people’s opinions, and I actually think that taboos on what can be said cause more problems than they solve. People should be encouraged to be polite in their statements, but they still get to make them. This leads onto…

Jamal – I’m sorry to disagree, but if you’re offended you have to give me a rational reason why I shouldn’t be allowed to speak. That you’re offended simply isn’t enough – if I decide to get offended at every mention of pizza, would that be good enough to stop people talking about pizza? Religion gets special treatment in this regard, and I think that’s wrong.

Freedom of speech is only unlimited and unrestricted if you live alone on the top of a mountain. In the real world, if informing actually offends then it should be and is, curbed.

As for the “So you’re offended. So fucking what?”, and then “Can you give an honest and coherent answer, explaining why your personal hurt feelings take precedence over someone else’s freedom?”
Please. Freedom. Define freedom. Why should anyone’s feelings take any precedence over someone else’s? Society has to get along together. Therefore they must give some regard to other people’s feelings and views. That’s what I define as respect. Is it really necessary to deliberately offend people?

Is it really necessary to deliberately offend people? I don’t think so. If this were an accident, then this is very unfortunate. To those that want to riot because of the pictures, then you’re pathetic. Voice your point, and ask that this is dealt with carefully, fairly and correctly. Violence never wins any argument, and puts you in the wrong.